Monday, July 2, 2012

What statement does the stranger whom Hester recognizes make three times?Chapter 3 of The Scarlet Letter

While Hester stands on the scaffold at the opening of the story,
the stranger who enters the colony is her husband, Mr. Prynne (the reader will henceforth know
him as Chillingworth).  He, of course, recognizes Hester just as she recognizes him.  At some
distance from the scaffold, he obtains information about Hester from a local colony member. 
After hearing of what she has done he asserts that he agrees with her punishment but laments the
fact that her "partner" in crime is not up there with her.  Knowing that the identity of the
child's father is a secret of Hester's heart, he says, more to himself than anyone
else:



But he will be
known!--he will be known!--he will be known! (Chapter
3)



This is Chillingworth's first
announcement of what he plans to spend his time in the colony doing: seeking, finding, and
inflicting revenge on the man who fell into adultery with his (once)
wife.

No comments:

Post a Comment

How is Anne's goal of wanting "to go on living even after my death" fulfilled in Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl?I didn't get how it was...

I think you are right! I don't believe that many of the Jews who were herded into the concentration camps actually understood the eno...